la_follette Although now 32 years old, this film still packs a wallop. The violence is raw, and very brutal -- even by today's standards. Everyone seems to be getting shot in the face, or in the testicles, and director Friedkin always makes sure to show the gore in full, red detail. The story concerns a corrupt Secret Service agent named Chance out to avenge his partner's killing. He runs into a vicious artist-counterfeiter named Masters who seems to know all of Chance's moves before anyone else. Someone is feeding Masters information, and the film suggests it could be a sleazy lawyer, appropriately named Grimes, or the sleazy woman who Chance is sleeping with. We really don't know though.Mirroring the violence is an equally ugly depiction of Los Angeles. Forget about palm trees, beaches and glamorous people. Friedkin's Los Angeles consists of smog, railroad yards, electrical towers, claustrophobic industrial streets and seedy bars. There's literally nothing redeeming about the place.There are some apparent plot holes. Why don't they just arrest Masters? They know where he is, as he frequents a local health club ("I'm an easy man to find" he boasts). Masters had rented out an industrial warehouse where Chance's partner was killed. Masters drove his sports car and walked all over that property. Was he so careful that he scrubbed every piece of evidence? I would imagine something was left behind -- a tire track, a footprint, something. Either from Masters or his burly co- conspirator. Stupidly, when the Secret Service shows up at the warehouse, they put their fingerprints on every door and dumpster handle in sight.Instead of arresting him, they try a sting operation. It doesn't go well.The dialogue is cynical, dark and very true to life. Certain lines stick with you. "Makin it like very other swinging dick in here." "Enjoy your work Mr. Jessup?" "He doesn't have it. What a guy." "Your taste is in your ass."Nine out of 10.

The Grand Master To Live and Die in L.A. is one of those underrated gems that could easily get lost but then resurface every once in a while. Based on a novel by former Secret Service Agent Gerald Petievich, this action packed crime caper moves at a frenetic pace thanks to director William Friedkin (The French Connection) and it is also notable for featuring a cast of almost unknowns who later find stardom.Los Angeles Secret Service Agent Richard Chance (William L. Petersen, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) is a reckless daredevil who vows to take down the brilliant but murderous counterfeiter Rick Masters (Willem Dafoe, Platoon) following the brutal murder of Chance's partner Jimmy Hart (Michael Greene) who was due to retire in less than three days. Chance makes it very clear to his new partner John Vukovich (John Pankow, Mad About You) that he will break the law and throw all the rules and ethics out the window to catch Masters no matter the cost. Chance also relies on his informant Ruth (Darlanne Fluegel, Lock Up) to provide him relevant tips with whom he is also having a sexual relationship with as well. Vukovich also contacts Master's lawyer Bob Grimes (Dean Stockwell, Blue Velvet) to try and get close to Masters. Chance and Vukovich continue to tear up the streets of Los Angeles hot on the heels of Masters, but for everyone the price may come at high cost.William L. Petersen, who made his big break here, turns in an excellent performance as the thrill seeking daredevil Secret Service Agent Richard Chance who is breaking every rule in the book no matter the cost to avenge the death of his partner. Willem Dafoe shows that he is always reliable no matter what role he plays and as the murderous counterfeiter Rick Masters, Dafoe is almost flawless. John Pankow who is later well known for comedic roles does a fine job as straight laced John Vukovich who finds himself in a moral dilemma taking down Masters with his partner Chance.The soundtrack by pop band Wang Chun gives the film a neo-noir feeling reminiscent to Miami Vice although the same mood is transferred to Los Angeles. Everything about To Live and Die in L.A. is unashamedly 80's.What makes To Live and Die in L.A. enjoyable is that the movie is not just the same clichéd crime caper. The good guys might have their strengths but their flaws prove to be their downfall. Richard Chance is definitely more of an anti-hero who sees things as the end justifies the means. The bad guys are also three dimensional. While they are criminals, they are also human without sympathizing with them or glamorising their lifestyle. Rick Masters might be brilliant with his methodical attention to detail with counterfeiting dollar bills, but he is also ruthless and is not afraid to commit murder should anyone cross him. His personal life also shows his eccentric behaviour.To Live and Die in L.A. is also made even more memorable featuring one of the most thrilling car chases in cinematic history.Keep an eye out for John Turturro (The Big Lebowski), Robert Downey Sr. (Robert Downey Jr's father) and Steve James (American Ninja) in small roles.Over 30 years later, To Live and Die in L.A. is still an underrated gem that is still enjoyable and well worth checking out. It's also fantastic to see a majority of the cast including William L. Petersen and Willem Dafoe move onto bigger and better things with their career.9/10.

SnoopyStyle Secret service agents Jimmy Hart and Richard Chance (William Petersen) thwart an Islamic terrorist during a Presidential visit. Hart has a few days left before retirement. He tries to investigate and gets killed by counterfeiter Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe). Chance vows to take him down. He gets John Vukovich (John Pankow) as his new partner. They catch Masters' delivery boy Carl Cody (John Turturro). Masters' lawyer Bob Grimes (Dean Stockwell) says Cody has to do 3 years. Chance's C.I. Ruth Lanier (Darlanne Fluegel) directs them to lawyer Max Waxman. Waxman was Cody's last stop and Masters suspects he set them up. Masters and his girlfriend Bianca Torres (Debra Feuer) go to demand repayment and ends up killing him. Chance steals Waxman's black book as he becomes more morally corrupt in order to take down Masters.William Friedkin delivers a slick thriller of amoral cops and immoral everyone else. I love Dafoe's montage of counterfeiting. Friedkin delivers so many great action scenes. The wrong way car chase is the highlight and probably the height of his action work. It is so slick and so stylized that I accept the avant-garde artsy stuff. It fits into the movie. It also has an early bungee jump on film. This is one of the most fun 80s action thriller filled with relatively unknown actors at the time. I can't help but think of Michael Mann who was showrunning Miami Vice TV show at the time.

triggerhappyguy What is everyone smoking? I went in with high hopes and was let down by this awful film. Is it just nostalgia talking? I don't see why this is so beloved by film fans.I see labels like "groundbreaking", "cliche free", "gritty", "a different take on ___". It's NONE of those things! It's full of some of the biggest cop clichés of all time - and I know for a fact they didn't stem from this film. For example, 10 minutes in, one of the cops says "I'm too old for this s**t" - then he gets shot TWO DAYS FROM RETIREMENT! I almost fell out of my chair laughing at how ludicrous it was. It was like a parody of a cop film.Then there's the whole "the brooding cop doesn't want a new partner, but is forced to get along with him anyway". The lead isn't an anti-hero cop, he's just incompetent. He and his partner fall asleep at a stake out! He lets the guy he has in custody go see a "daughter" in hospital, not even checking with the hospital if she's related and knows the guy. Then he lets the criminal get away by taking his cuffs off in a hospital lift, and then getting the crap kicked out of him. RIDICULOUS!I know this film is from the '80s, but this is beyond your average '80s campy cheese factor. Numerous posing with one leg on a chair, with crotch in full view - tight jeans begging for mercy. Naked/half naked guys everywhere. It's not a big deal, it was just kind of laughable when all these guys are being macho with each other... then they're naked in a dressing room together, going about their business. The terrible soundtrack doesn't help. The main guy tries to act tough, but just comes off looking like a tool. Who wears a leather jacket without a shirt underneath? Plus, the main character is called Dick Chance. Yeah.The directing is hit and miss. Sometimes there's interesting shots, or techniques - I particularly liked the POV shot when the main guy is chasing after a criminal. The majority of the time though, the film has abrupt cuts which are jarring, but it not in an artistic, or meaningful way. It's just annoying, and feels like an amateur is behind the camera.It took three days for me to watch all of it. It was painfully bad. The only saving grace was the great acting from Dafoe and Turturro, but even they couldn't save this mess. Sorry for the long-winded post, but I felt passionate about this and want to make sure if anyone is on the fence about this - please, AVOID! If you want to watch a decent anti-hero cop film, I'd suggest watching Bad Lieutenant [1992], which is what I watched after this to cleanse myself after watching the prior trash. Bad Lieutenant does everything that this film wanted to do, but did it right - and went balls to the wall with it.